Quinn Dodges Tax Hike Questions

Gov. Pat Quinn applauds the Illinois House for passing budget bills, but he avoided talking about the unsettled income tax hike issue. When Quinn was asked in Cicero on Thursday whether legislators should pass a budget without having acted on the expiring income tax increase—even though the budget bills anticipate that revenue—he wouldn’t answer directly. He only said he favors a “responsible budget.”

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“There are those that want to be irresponsible and they want to tear things down, especially our schools,” Quinn said. “They want to take away resources from our schools that would be very tragic for the future of Illinois and our students. I’m not gonna let them get away with it. I’m gonna fight as hard as I can for what’s right.” Quinn didn’t say whether he would sign the budget without extending the income tax hike, which is due to sunset in January, midway through the fiscal year. Quinn has proposed making the increase permanent.